CPI inflation dips to 2.18% in May 2017

MoM Team / Mumbai, Jun 13, 2017 10:16 AM IST

The all-India general CPI inflation dipped to fresh record low of 2.18 percent in May 2017 (base 2012=100), compared with 2.99 percent in April 2017. The corresponding provisional inflation rate for rural area was 2.30 percent and urban area 2.13 percent in May 2017 as against 3.02 percent and 3.03 percent in April 2017. The core CPI inflation eased to 4.14 percent in May 2017 from 4.44 percent in April 2017. The cumulative CPI inflation was lower at 2.58 percent in April-May FY2018 compared with 5.61 percent in April-May FY2017.

Among the CPI components, inflation of food and beverages dipped to (-) 0.22 percent in May 2017 from 1.29 percent in April 2017 mainly contributing to the dip in CPI inflation. Within the food items, the inflation slipped for vegetables to (-) 13.44 percent, pulses and products (-) 19.45 percent, fruits 1.40 percent, spices 0.52 percent, cereals and products 4.81 percent and prepared meals, snacks, sweets etc 5.17 percent. The inflation also declined for milk and products to 4.56 percent, sugar and confectionery 9.84 percent, oils and fats 2.70 percent, egg 0.72 percent and non-alcoholic beverages to 2.66 percent. The inflation was nearly flat for meat and fish at 1.87 percent in May 2017.

The inflation for housing was steady at 4.84 percent, while that for miscellaneous items dipped to 3.81 percent in May 2017. Within the miscellaneous items, the inflation for transport and communication eased to 3.46 percent, personal care and effects 3.27 percent, education 4.90 percent and health 3.80 percent, while it rose slightly for household goods and services to 3.97 percent in May 2017.

The inflation for clothing and footwear eased to 4.41 percent in May 2017, while the CPI inflation of fuel and light dipped to 5.46 percent in May 2017.